first favorites: diaper bag

Now that we're a few months into this parenting thing, I thought it'd be fun to round up a few of our most-used and much-loved items. I did a lot of research before Caleb came along. Our apartment is tiny, and I wanted to make sure every item we included on our registry was something we truly wanted (and wouldn't mind inviting into our space!). I can honestly say we regularly use everything we registered for, plus a few additional items we've found along the way. First up: Our trusty diaper bag.

1| The bag. My mom gave me the Petunia Picklebottom City Carryall for Mother's Day when I was first expecting. I worried that it wasn't gender-neutral enough, but she said that I'd generally be the one carrying it. That I loved it what was mattered. Thanks, Mom :)

2| Blankets. Aden and Anais classic swaddle blankets are one of those "every mom" recommendations (as in, every mom I know recommends them), and I can see why. They're large and lightweight, and we use them all the time, for everything from burp cloths to nursing blankets to carseat covers.

3| Change of clothes. We've found that Baby Gap clothes fit our guy well and hold up nicely in the wash. I'd love to add this sweet striped romper to the mix for summer.

4| Toys for teething. Sophie the Giraffe is another "every mom" recommendation, and I have to say she's managed to live up to the hype. Her skinny legs and neck make her easy to grip, and Caleb loves chomping on the nose and ears. Plus, she squeaks! The Winkel is a winner for similar reasons -- it was actually the first toy Caleb ever grasped all by himself.

5| Diapers. We decided to go the cloth diapering route, and we couldn't be more pleased! Bum Genius pocket diapers are all we use these days.

6| Wipes. Since we're already doing diaper laundry, we generally use flannel wipes and wet them with a spray bottle. But for on-the-go and bigger messes, we like these Burt's Bees Baby Bee wipes.

7| Wet bag. A must for cloth diapering while out and about. We have two medium size Planet Wise wet bags that we rotate, as well a larger one from Kanga Care (not pictured) for longer trips. (Although, I confess, I co-opted that one for my sweaty yoga clothes post-Bikram. It works beautifully!)

8| Rash cream. Caleb hasn't had any major or lasting rashes so far, but for slight redness and irritation, Bordeaux's Butt Paste usually clears it up within hours.

9| Stay-on slippers. A friend gave us these cute Robeez, and the elastic makes them dang near impossible to kick off! And when the shoes stay on, the socks stay on. Plus, I like ensuring our winter baby's tootsies stay extra warm.

10| Lanolin. Not quite the must-have it once was, but this stuff absolutely saved me in the early days of nursing. I came down with double mastitis in my second week postpartum, and this was about the only "comfort" I had!

Next up: The ins and outs of our diapering system. It may seem silly, but deciding whether or not to cloth diaper felt really overwhelming initially (should we go through with it? How will it work? So many options! What do we choose? etc). I liked reading up on what's worked for people personally, so in the next roundup I'll put all my research to use and share the system that's ultimately worked for us :)

--

PS - My first series on favorite things.

tied up with string: goes where i go

Deep down I know that stuff can't describe who we are, but for me, the items below come pretty darn close. To conclude this series, I've gathered together a few of the things you might find in my (metaphorical) tool box; each provides me with a special kind of sustenance. Meet my . . .

1| Notebooks, notepads, sketchbooks, and journals. I have at least three variations with me at pretty much all times, and I inevitably end up stockpiling many more than that. Somewhere in storage there's a giant Rubbermaid bin filled with all the notebooks from my growing up years; it's a habit I've never broken. I gravitate towards all sorts and am frequently adding new ones to my collection, but Field Notes have been my standard issue for the past few years. They're my version of index cards in the back pocket. The ever-honorable Moleskin can often be found floating around my bag as well.

2| Pens and pencils. A handful of my favorites are, once again, with me at all times. They are: Varsity Fountain Pens, Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner (usually in Turquoise), and Pilot Precise V5 (Extra Fine). More recently I've been digging the neon mechanical pencils from Paperchase.

3| Candles. Wherever I am in the world, you can bet I'm lighting plenty of tealights when the sun goes down, along with a good scented candle.  Lately we've been loving Sacristy from True Grace Candles (we bought ours locally at The One). It smells like home to me.

4| Bone folder, X-Acto knife, and decorative papers. These are my most-used art supplies and some of my favorite possessions. Whether I'm packing for a big move or a week-long getaway, they remain close at hand. When I lived in Berlin, Modular was my favorite place to buy paper. Sometimes I dream of going back to the city for a day, just to shop there again.

5| Diana Mini Lomography Camera. Since buying her on impulse last year, Diana has tagged along on all sorts of adventures. She doesn't take herself too seriously, and I have a great time seeing what she can do.

6| Travel coffee mug. It's no secret that I love coffee, and I bring an embarrassingly large tumbler with me to work each day. (Once a student drew a picture of me with what looked like a giant oven mitt on my right hand. When I asked her about it she simply said, "Coffee.")

7| iPad. Andy gave me one as a wedding present, and I use it so much I wouldn't even know where to begin. As an expat, I especially love having instant access to magazines and the occasional TV show whenever I need a little taste of home.

And of course, let's not forget . . .

books, books, and more books!

iPad or not, my heart belongs to the real thing. But you already knew that, right? ;)

Bottom photo from Kate Spade, via Note To Sarah.

tied up with string: i sense a pattern

What can I say? I love them. Both of them.

1- Dwell Studio Draper Bedding | 2- Striped skirt via  | 3- Gold dotted "moon" paper from Bartsch  | 4- Drawstring beach bag | 5- Spotted socks | 6- Casey Baudoin blog header | 7- Kate Spade Monogram Note Cards | 8- Polka dot dress via | 9- Duvet cover (our own, available here) | 10- Clothing rack full of stripes (own) | 11- Polka dot blouse closeup (own) | 12- Striped heart garland (tutorial) | 13- Popsicle onesie by bobochoses | 14- Striped sail via | 15- Zara Home Cruise Rug (no longer available; image found here)

Most of the above images can also be found on my Pinterest boards. And speaking of Pinterest, this lady has some excellent collections of both stripes and dots.

tied up with string: like breathing

If you've read my blog before (or ever glanced at my sidebar), you're well aware that I love to read. It's more than that, though: Words generally have this mystical kind of power over me, and I love to get lost in them.

So naturally it's hard (if not impossible) for me to pick an all-time favorite book or poem. But I'm going to try.

Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott. 

Suffice it to say, this book changed my life. It was given to me by an English teacher my senior year of high school after she found me hiding in the bathroom, crying and doubled over with anxiety. Turns out, Traveling Mercies was exactly what I needed, and it has remained one of the best cures I know in times of confusion and doubt. It's traveled with me to every country I've ever lived in, usually in my carry on, as I don't want to risk losing it. Lamott's voice is funny, wise, and so beautifully human I could burst. She tells the truth about her brokenness; as a result, I end up feeling whole.

I don't really read a lot of adult fiction, so I can't say I have many favorites on that front. I do, however, have an intense love of quality children's books. (No surprise there, given that I'm an elementary school  teacher and my mom is a children's librarian :) )

Here, in no particular order, are three of my favorite picture books (which, like Traveling Mercies, have managed to traverse the globe with me):

So Many Days by Alison McGhee, illustrated by Taeeun Yoo -- Plenty of adult appeal; there's a deep metaphorical meaning that most kids just won't get.

A River of Words by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet -- I may be a little biased on this one, but I'm certainly not the only fan of this book, which was nominated for a Caldecott in 2009.

Not a Box by Antoinette Portis -- The concept and illustrations are simple, but there's nothing subtle about this book; creativity and imagination practically vibrate from its pages.

I frequently share poems on this blog; they have a tendency to move me like nothing else can. I define poets as "people who string words together in such a way, so as to describe that which is beyond words," and I love them for it. Leaves of Grass holds a special corner of my heart, and this is probably my favorite poem of all time:

Walt Whitman
SONG OF THE OPEN ROAD

Allons! The road is before us!
It is safe – I have tried it – my own feet have tried it well – be not detain'd!
Let the paper remain on the desk unwritten, and the book on the
        shelf unopen'd!
Let the tools remain in the workshop! Let the money remain unearn'd!
Let the school stand! mind not the cry of the teacher!
Let the preacher preach in his pulpit! Let the lawyer plead in the
        court, and the judge expound the law.

Camerado, I give you my hand!
I give you my love more precious than money,
I give you myself before preaching or law;
Will you give me yourself? will you come travel with me?
Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?

(I've actually posted it once before, and it was also one of the readings at our wedding.)


Until tomorrow, then! Cheers :)

happy weekend

Photo via revelment with text added by me

We head out the door bright and early tomorrow morning (our friends are already there waiting for us!). I can't wait to hang out by the pool, shop the souks, and hike some beautiful wadis. 

As promised, I'll be continuing with my favorite things mini-series while we're away, starting again on Monday.

Have a wonderful weekend, folks! x

tied up with string: all dolled up

Today I'm sharing some of my favorite beauty products, many of which have been in my arsenal for years. Everything you see here is something I use regularly, if not daily. (Just going through my morning routine after finishing this layout, I realized I'd used seven of the nine items below.) From drugstore standards to a few everyday luxuries, these are my most beloved . . . 

1| Chronic dark circles and the occasional pimple have nothing on Benefit's Boi-ing concealer. (Apply with a good brush and blend by patting gently with your ring finger. I like this tutorial, from a former MAC salesgirl.)

2| These Yes to Cucumbers Hypoallergenic Wipes are so good they've replaced Cetaphil in my daily routine. Extra handy for travel and late nights, too.

3| I've been wearing Chanel Mademoiselle since I was 18 and remain ever-loyal.

4| The holy grail of curly hair care products. Nothing (and I mean NOTHING) whips my hair into shape like Frizz Ease Clearly Defined Gel. If I were stranded on a desert island, I'd want food, water, and this gel.

5| Another staple that's been in my bag since high school, Perfumeria Gal Lip Balm lasts for months. I love the peach flavor.

6| One of the best hand creams I've ever used. Lightweight, silky, and ultra-moisturising, Antipodes Deliverance Kowhai Flower Hand Cream smells like fresh-squeezed orange juice.

7| While I'm not someone that insists on having my nails polished at all times, when I do it's likely one of these three: Essie Cute As A Button (juicy and fresh), Sally Hansen Salon Effects in Glitz Blitz (makes a statement and lasts forever), or Chanel Fall 2011 Collection in Peridot (still stuck on its rare geode quality).

8| A hot bath loaded with Epsom salts is my number one way to de-stress. I usually stock up on generic brands (Target and Walgreens are good), but Dr. Teal's Lavender is a nice treat.

9| Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stains last forever and are super easy to apply. I alternate between Desire (a lush pink - just ignore the name!) and Gothic (bright, stop-in-your-tracks red). 

What are some of your tried-and-true favorites?

tied up with string: everyday bling

I've never been a very flashy person, jewelry-wise or otherwise, so my favorite bling isn't all that bling-y. Diamonds don't do anything for me, and in fact I always insisted that I didn't want an engagement ring. Little by little, though, I came to realize that this tradition was important to Andy, and we managed to find an amazing compromise. 

My ring (left foreground) is handmade from recycled gold; the stone is eco-friendly Moissanite. (Andy's ring, in the background of the photo on the left, is special in it's own right: It's vintage, passed down from my great grandfather.) It didn't come with a proposal, but rather as the result of a conversation: Our decision to get married was mutual, full of its own kind of quiet romance. Andy gave me the ring two days before our wedding, while sitting in a park where we'd gone to have some alone time before everything kicked into high gear. 

Even more understated is my wedding ring -- a simple hammered band of gold, as thin as I could find. I'm absolutely in love with this ring. I love that it doesn't get in the way of anything: teaching, writing, art-making. That it never snags or bothers, and that it isn't in the least bit showy. It's just the ring I wanted, times a thousand.

Our rings, like our story, may not be the most traditional, but they're completely reflective of us.

mini-series: tied up with string

We leave for Oman in just a few short days (yay!). Since I'm not sure what internet access will be like (not to mention I'd kinda rather hang out by the pool as opposed to with my computer), I thought I'd curate some of my favorite things to share while we're away. Introducing . . . 

. . . my current version of a blog on vacation :) For the next week, I'll be posting about things big and small, all near and dear to my heart. Anything is fair game, as long as I use and/or love it. Check back later today for the first official post. Cheers!